TEXT: I CORINTHIANS 13:1-13
TITLE; GOD’S KIND OF LOVE
INTRODUCTION
Today is Week 4 – the final week of our series on marriage.
Today we want to look at having God’s kind of love in our marriage –the kind of love that’s found in 1 Corinthian’s 13.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
OUTLINE
1.WHAT GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IS (V1-3)
2.WHAT GOD’S KIND OF LOVE DOES FOR OUR MARRIAGE (V4-11)
3.HOW TO RECEIVE GOD’S KIND OF LOVE (V12-13)
1.WHAT GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IS (V1-3)
A. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST TALK. (V1)
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”
1.“SAYING I LOVE YOU” TO YOUR SPOUSE IS NOT ENOUGH. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST TALK.
B.GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST GIVING GIFTS (V2)
“2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
1.JUST GIVING GIFTS TO YOUR SPOUSE IS NOT ENOUGH. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST GIVING GIFTS.
C.GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST DOING GREAT THINGS.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1.JUST DOING GREAT THINGS FOR YOUR SPOUSE IS NOT ENOUGH. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST DOING GREAT THINGS.
2.HAVING GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IN MY MARRIAGE IS NOT SOME KIND OF CHECKLIST.
TELL MY SPOUSE I LOVE YOU (CHECK)
BUY A NICE GIFT (CHECK)
DO A NICE DEED – PUT OUT THE TRASH (CHECK)
2.WHAT GOD’S KIND OF LOVE DOES FOR MY MARRIAGE- (V4-11)
A.GOD’S KIND OF LOVE WILL HELP CHANGE MY CHARACTER FOR THE BETTER. (V4-5)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, …(v4-5)
1. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE WILL MAKE ME MORE PATIENT, KINDER AND MORE HUMBLE IN MY MARRIAGE.
2. THE FRUIT OF GOD’S LOVE IS THAT MY CHARACTER WILL BE CHANGED FOR THE BETTER!
3. YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR SPOUSE’S CHARACTER! ONLY GOD’S LOVE CAN!
B. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE WILL HELP ME ACCEPT MY SPOUSE’S SHORTCOMINGS.
“It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (v5-6)
1. THE TRUTH IS THAT NO SPOUSE IS PERFECT!
2. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE WILL HELP ME BE MORE FORGIVING.
“Love covers over all wrongs” (Proverbs 10:12)
C. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE WILL HELP STRENGTHEN MY MARRIAGE. (V7-8)
“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”(v7-8)
1. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE WILL PROTECT MY MARRIAGE DURING THE HARD TIMES!
2. WHEN QUESTIONS OF TRUST, HOPE, AND COMMITMENT ARISE GOD’S LOVE WILL HELP STRENGHTEN OUR MARRIAGE.
D. GOD’S KIND OF LOVE WILL HELP ME TO GROW UP. (V11)
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” (v11)
1. MARRIAGE IS OUR LAST CHANCE TO GROW UP!
2.SURVIVAL IN MARRIAGE DEPENDS ON WHETHER I PUT CHILDISH THINGS BEHIND ME OR NOT!
3.GOD’S KIND OF LOVE WILL HELP ME TO DO JUST THAT BECAUSE GOD’S KIND OF LOVE ASKS FOR A HIGHER COMMITMENT!
3. HOW DO I RECEIVE GOD’S KIND OF LOVE BECAUSE… (V12-13)
A.GOD WANTS ME TO COME FACE TO FACE WITH GOD’S KIND OF LOVE.
“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. (V12)
B. GOD WANTS ME TO FULLY KNOW GOD’S KIND OF LOVE. (V12)
“Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
C. WE RECEIVE GOD’S KIND OF LOVE THRU FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1.THRU FAITH IN CHRIST
A.WE GET TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S KIND OF LOVE THRU FAITH IN CHRIST.
B. CHRIST CAME THAT WE MIGHT EXPERIENCE GOD’S KIND OF LOVE
2.THRU HOPE IN CHRIST
A.THERE IS HOPE FOR EVERY MARRIAGE THRU CHRIST.
3.THRU LOVE OF CHRIST
A.THRU LOVING CHRIST WE GET TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S KIND OF LOVE IN RETURN
B.HOW DO WE LOVE CHRIST?
1.THRU OBEDIENCE
2.THRU SPENDING TIME WITH CHRIST IN PRAYER AND THE WORD.
